Trainer for Singlespeed?
 

I'm hoping this is the correct forum for this. I'd like to find an indoor trainer that will accept my single speed bike. So far I'm finding little information about this.

I have a proper single speed, not a conversion. The frame has track ends and bolt on wheels. I've been told about the Kurt Kinetic. I have doubts that the adapter kit I saw will work.

I've been using my SS on rollers. It's a great aerobic workout and does wonders for the pedal stroke. However, all my friends use trainers in the winter. Subsequently, in the spring I really struggle to keep up with them.

If anyone has any info or suggestions I'd be very interested. Thanks for any help.

You're likely to get a lousy workout from a Kurt Kinetic because it's resistance is dictated by wheel speed. With the SS the resistance will vary only in conjunction with your cadence. You really need gears to make it work properly.

For the SS you need a trainer that allows external control of resistance, and for the most part that's just mag units.

I'd stick with the rollers. Why do you think you need a trainer? Get a resistance unit for them and learn to ride them with a heavy load/resistance ... worst case you can buy a fork mount if you can't stay on them.

And your right that a Kurt Kinetic would have problems securely locking on to a nutted axle. You could probably get another nut, thread it on, then round/knock down the flats on the end of the nut so it was shaped more like a beveled QR.

I stated the reason for wanting a trainer in my OP. It's not an issue of me staying up on the rollers. I've been able to do that for a long time. I want more resistance. I don't know of a "resistance unit". I've been looking at trainers with adjustable resistance. I've actually seen at least one fluid trainer that does that.

I've thought of creating my own adaptor nuts, or whatever. I don't know if a normal trainer would adjust to accommodate.

A cheap DIY solution for adding resistance to aluminum rollers is to use some rare earth magnets. Google 'rollers resistance magnet' and you'll find lots of info and examples.

For instance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGMh7y2fEOE

SportsCrafters will sell you just the resistance roller. If your frame is the right width, there you go. The only problem with these sorts of schemes is that you only have one level of resistance. Not having gears is a real PITA, not a benefit.

You might be able to use acorn nuts if you have enough threads exposed, they might hold well enough in the trainer pockets but check it well before trusting it.

https://www.fastenal.com/products/fa...%20Nuts%22%7C~

I don't have a single speed, but I found the adjustable resistance on the Mag version of Kurt Kinteic to work very well.

Sorry I can't comment on the adapters.. other than I would have assumed they worked for their intended purpose.

I just recently mounted up my Trek District SS on my trainer. It is a Travel Tec Inertial which has just a bolt through the axle probably similar to yours. It fit up just fine. I was concerned about the gearing(55/20), but it is really about perfect at least for me. If it doesn't fit up good, you can use a stack of washers or even a wad of duct tape just to tighten up the fit without scratching. Good Luck!